Balancing means



June 22, 1943. E. w. REYNOLDS BALANCING MEANS Filed Oct. 5, 1941 ,3Sheets-Sheet 1 lNl/EN TOP 5. m REYNOLDS AT TO/PNE) E. w. REYNOLDSBALANCING MEANS Filed Oct. 5, 1941 June 22, 1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOI? E. W. REYNOLDS ATTORNEY June 22, 1943. E. w. REYNOLDSBALANCING MEANS Filed Oct. 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY PatentedJune 22, 1943 BALANCING MEANS Ellwood W. Reynolds, Westfield, N. J.,assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application October 3, 1941, Serial No. 413,457

Claims.

This invention relates to balancing means, and more particularly tomeans for maintaining in centrifugal balance a rotating support fromwhich material is being continuously drawn.

There are innumerable instances in various arts in which a supply ofmaterial in strand form, e. g. of ribbon, tape, wire, thread or thelike, is being revolved in an orbit about an axis while, at the sametime, strand is continuously being drawn from the supply. For example,in the manufacture of some kinds of multi-conductor electrical telephonecable, a core comprising a number of associated insulated wires is to bewrapped with paper tape served on the core in helical overlapping turns.To this end apparatus is provided for carrying a disc-like pad orspirally wound supply of paper tape in a circular orbit about a coreadvancing longitudinally along the axis of the orbit. An end of the tapebeing attached to the core, the tape is served on the core in helicalturns by the combined effect of the longitudinal motion of the core andthe orbital motion of the pad, the tape being drawn from the pad andwound on the core. Normally the longitudinal speed of the cable and theorbital speed of the 'pad remain constant and in a fixed relation toeach other, thus keeping the pitch of the helical windings of the tapeat a constant predetermined value. Since the tape is being continuallyremoved from the pad the mass of the latter is being continuallydiminished during the process. Hence the rotary or centrifugal balanceof the pad and its rotary support is being continually converted into agreater and greater unbalance, assuming that they are in balance whenoperation commences with a full pad.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus havingmeans to compensate in a simple, accurate and reliable manner forunbalance of a continuously progressive character occurring in a rotarymember.

In one embodiment, in an apparatus for serving paper tape on alongitudinally advancing cable core, the invention may be illustrated asincluding a supporting member rotating about an axis along which a cablecore advances means on the frame to support a disc-like pad of papertape to be served on the core, the pad being rotatable about an axisperpendicular to its own principal plane and hence to the axis of theframe also, and means to compensate for the diminishing mass of the padand including a tank mounted on the frame and means to supply water tothe tank at a rate having a constant relation to the rate of Withdrawalof tape from the pad.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of one embodiment thereof taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which, the same referencenumerals are applied to identical parts in the several figures, and inwhich Fig. 1 is a partly diagrammatic view in side elevation of anapparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the showing of Fig. 1 from the left;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, broken sectional detail of a portion of the watercirculation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view on the line -4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the essentials of a modified form.

As herein illustrated, the invention is embodied in an apparatus forserving a paper tape I8 in helical turns on a cable core I9 which isbeing advanced longitudinally of itself from left to right in Fig. l byany suitable means (not shown) through the axially hollow journallingsof a rotatable frame 28. A plate-like circular support 2| is mounted inthe frame to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of the frame 20. -A pad, or disc-like spirally wound mass 22 ofthe tape I8 rests on and is coaxially rotatable with the support 2 I.From the pad, the tape runs over guide rolls 23 to the core I9 to bewound thereon. A second pad support I2I identically like the support 2Icarries a dummy pad I22 to counterbalance the support 2| at all timesand the pad 22 when first put in place.

A main drive shaft 24, running at constant speed, drives the input shaft25 of an adjustably variable speed transmission device 26. Theparticular nature and construction of this device 26 and its mode ofoperation are no part of the present invention and so are notparticularized here. It serves to adjust the ratio of the rotary speedof the frame 20 to the longitudinal speed of the cable core l9 to givethe desired pitch to the turns of tape served on the core. An outputshaft 21 of the device 26, which runs at a constant speed in operation,drives the frame 20 in rotation through any suitable means such as abelt or chain 28, at a rotary speed which is normally constant. Thus thepad 22 resting on the support 2| is carried in a circular orbit aboutthe core I9 to serve the tape on the core. The tape is thus continuouslywithdrawn from the pad 22 and laid on the core. This withdrawal of tapefrom the pad 22 can be effected because the support 2| is rotatable andpermits the pad to rotate. on its own axis unbalance, a tank 39, itselfcounterpoised by an equivalent mass we, is mounted on the frame with itscenter of form preferably in the axis of the support 2 I This tank 36 ispreferably shallow in the direction of the axis of the support andcircular about that axis. Thus it is shallow radially of the frame andchanges in the radius of gyration of an increasing mass of watercontained in it become negligible. A removable drain plug3| in one edgeof the tank, when in the posi tion shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4,allows the tank to be drained into a supply tank 32,stationarily-mounted in a suitable position.

A supply pipe 33 runs to the intake of a variable delivery pumpgenerally indicated A reciprocable plunger 3.5 has its lower end in thechamber of the pump. On entering the cham-- her and displacing watertherefrom, the water is forced out of the plunger through a check valve36; and when the plunger i withdrawn from the chamber, water from thesupply tank 32 and pipe tt-enters-the pump chamber through acheck valve31. Water forced out through the outlet check valve 353 passes via pipe33 and a passage 39 in a stationary collar in a bearing housing of theframe Zii, into-an annular chain ber 49 in a collar on the frame'ilt.Thence the water passes through delivery iii to the tank 30. The plungerof the pump 3 3 is driven down for operation by the arm 42.01 abellcrank lever pivoted at M on link M- which is pivoted at 46- on astationary pin. The arm 42 is pivotally secured to the upperend of theplunger 35 at 4-l.- A cam roller 49 is mounted in the other arm 48 0fthe lever i3 to be driven by an eccentric cam 50. The cam 56 is drivenin continuous rotation through gears 51 and 52 and sprocket- 53 by achain 55 from the shaft 21!; The plunger 35 is raised in itsreciproction by a compression spring-5 'Thus the'plunger is drivenpositively down by the lever 3 for its delivery stroke, but iresiliently raised for its suction stroke. The suction stroke can beadiustably limited by an adjustable stop 55: positioned to abut theupper end. of the plunger 35; and by this means the volume and hence themass of water being delivered by the pump 3% to the tank 353 can beadjusted to compensate substantially exactly for the mass. of tape'beingremoved from pad 22 Once this adjustment is made to accord with theparticular dimensions andspecific gravity of the tape being used, theratio of Water supplied to tape being removed remains constant Whatevervariations in speed of the machine generally may occur, even duringperiods of acceleration to start and. deceleration tc-stop, since therotations of the frame 253. and oi the cam 59 are effected from thecommon driving member 21'. The pump 34 disclosed above is herein termeda variable delivery pump because of the adiustability of thevolumedelivered at each stroke by adjustment of, the stop 56,-althoughso long as the .whole apparatus .runs' at constant. speed,

. the input shaft 6! the delivery of the pump is invariable. Theadjustability of the pump is in order that the volume of its deliverymay be varied to meet various rates of change of mass in the pad 22according as the dimensions (width and thickness) or specifice gravity(density of material) of the tape I8 composing the pad 22 are changedfrom case to case of use In this arrangement the rate of operation ofthe pump'rernains unalterable in relation to'the'speed of rotation ofthe frame 28.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification in which the delivery of the pump isassumed to be invariable and the rate of operation of the pump isarranged to be adjustably variable to set the volume delivered by thepump in unit time at an amount proportional ,tothe loss of mass of thepad in the same time. In this case the chain 5 3 drives of any suitableadjustably variable speed transmission generally indicated at and havinga member 62 operable to adjust the speed of the ,outputshaftBS. Asimple, non-adjustable, constant delivery pump generally indicated at isdriven from the shaft 83. The pump intake is connected through the pipe33 to the supply tank 32,. and its outlet tov the pipe 38. and soeventually to the tank 36, as before.

The embodiments disclosed are. illustrative and may be modified anddeparted from variously without departing rom the spirit and scope ofthe inventiona pointed out in and limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

Lin an apparatus having a rotatable, frame and a member thereonof.diminishing mass and carried by the frame in a circular orbit about theaxis of rotation of the frame,.thec0mbination with the said rotatableframe of a cont iner l, '1 idly mounted on the frame to rotatetherewith, a second stationary container not on the frame; a pump totransfer liquid from one container to the other to. compensate for,centrifugal unbal ance caused by the diminishing mass of, the mornher,and common driving means for theframe and the pump to drive the same in.constant speed ratio,

In an apparatus havinga rotatable frame and a member-thereon, ofdiminishing mass and carried by the frame in a circular orbit about theaxis of rotation of the frame, the combina; tion with the said rotatableframe of a container rigidly mounted on the frame to rotate therewith, asecond stationary container not on the frame, a pump to transfer liquidfrom theiirst named container to the other .to compensate for centrifugal unbalance caused by the;diminishing mass of the member, andcommon driving. means for the frame and the pump to drive the same inconstant speed ratio.. v

.3. In an apparatus having a rotatable frame and a member thereon.of,,,diminishing massand carried by the framenina circular orbit aboutthe axis of rotation. ofthe frame, the combinetion withthe saidrotatable frame of 2. container rigidly mounted-on the frame to rotatethere:

4. In an apparatus having a rotatable frame and a member thereon ofdiminishing mass and carried by the frame in a circular orbit about theaxis of rotation of the frame, the combination with the said rotatableframe of a container rigidly mounted on the frame to rotate therewith, asecond stationary container not on the frame, a constant delivery pumpto transfer liquid from the first named container to the other tocompensate for centrifugal unbalance caused by the diminishing mass ofthe member. and common driving means for the frame and the pump to drivethe same in constant speed ratio, together with normally constantadjustably variable speed transmission means interposed between the saidcommon driving means and the constant delivery pump to adjust the rateof output of the pump to correspond to an altered rate of loss of massof the member.

5. In an apparatus having a rotatable frame and a member thereon ofdiminishing mass and carried by the frame in a circular orbit about theaxis of rotation of the frame, the combination with the said rotatableframe of a container rigidly mounted on the frame to rotate therewith, asecond stationary container not on the frame, a pump to transfer liquidfrom the first named container to the other to compensate forcentrifugal unbalance caused by the diminishing mass of the member, andcommon driving means for the frame and the pump to drive'the same inconstant speed ratio, the said pump being of normally constantadjustably variable output per cycle of operation and thereby adjustableto set the rate of output thereof to correspond to an altered rate ofloss of mass of the member.

6. In an apparatus for serving strand material on a longitudinallymoving core and having a rotatable frame through the axis of which thecore passes and a strand supply support on the frame to be carriedthereby in a circular orbit about the core and to carry a supply ofstrand diminishing in mass as the strand thereof is wound upon the core,the combination with the said rotatable frame of a container rigidlymounted on the frame to rotate therewith, a second stationary containernot on the frame, a

pump to transfer liquid from one container to the other to compensatefor the centrifugal unbalance caused by the diminishingmass of thestrand supply carried by the support, and common driving means for theframe and the pump to drive the same in constant speed ratio.

'7. In an apparatus for serving strand material on a longitudinallymoving core and having a rotatable frame through the axis of which thecore passes and a strand supply support on the frame to be carriedthereby in a circular orbit about the core and to carry a supply ofstrand diminishing in mass as the strand thereof is wound upon the core,the combination with the said rotatable frame of a container rigidlymounted on the frame to rotate therewith, a second stationary containernot on the frame, a pump to transfer liquid from the first namedcontainer to the other to compensate for centrifugal unbalance caused bythe diminishing mass of the strand supply carried by the support, andcommon driving means for the frame and the pump to drive the same inconstant speed ratio,

8. In an apparatus for serving strand material on a longitudinallymoving core and having a rotatable frame through the axis of which thecore passes and a strand supply support on the frame to be carriedthereby in a circular orbit about the core and to carry a supply ofstrand diminishing in mass as the strand thereof is wound upon the core,the combination with the said rotatable frame of a container rigidlymounted on the frame to rotate therewith, a second stationary containernot on the frame, a pump to transfer liquid from the first namedcontainer to the other to compensate for centrifugal unbalance caused bythe diminishing mass of the strand supply carried by the support, andcommon driving means for the frame and the pump to drive the same inconstant speed ratio, together with means to adjust the rate of outputof the pump to correspond to an altered rate of loss of mass of thesupply.

9. In an apparatus for serving strand material on a longitudinallymoving core and having a rotatable frame through the axis of which thecore passes and a strand supply support on the frame to belcarriedthereby in a circular orbit about the core and to carry a supply ofstrand diminishing in mass as the strand thereof is wound upon the core,the combination with the said rotatable frame of a container rigidlymounted on the frame to rotate therewith, a second stationary containernot on the frame, a constant delivery pump to transfer liquid from thefirst named container to the other to compensate for centrifugalunbalance caused by the diminishing mass of the strand supply carried bythe support, and common driving means for the frame and the pump todrive the same in constant speed ratio, together with normally constantadjustably variable speed transmission means interposed between the saidcommon driving means and the pump to adjust the rate of output of thepump to correspond to an altered rate of loss of mass of the member.

10. In an apparatus for serving strand material on a longitudinallymoving core and having a rotatable frame through the axis of which thecore passes and a strand supply support on the frame to be carriedthereby in a circular orbit about the core and to carry a supply ofstrand diminishing in mass as the strand thereof is wound upon the core,the combination with the said rotatable frame of a container rigidlymounted on the frame to rotate therewith, a second stationary containernot on the frame, a pump to transfer liquid from the first namedcontainer to the other to compensate for centrifugal unbalance caused bythe diminishing mass of the strand supply carried by the support, andcommon driving means for the frame and the pump to drive the same inconstant speed ratio, the said pump being of normally constantadjustably variable volume of output per cycle of operation and therebyadjustable to set the rate of output thereof to correspond to an alteredrate of loss of mass of the supply.

' ELLWOOD W. REYNOLDS.

